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We can go on and on about how wonderful our ranch weddings are. But nothing truly says it best like a letter from a happy mother of the bride. The Whiteaker/Oakes wedding was one of our favorite weddings we’ve ever done and we were so happy when this showed up in our inbox just a week later.

Sat, Nov 9, 2013

Good morning Lisa!

Boy, it is hard to imagine exactly 1 week ago it was wedding day, what a fast week it has been!

I am one happy Mom I know that for a fact! You all outdid yourselves at my daughters wedding and I thank you from the bottom of my heart. I have had many people in conversation this week tell me how wonderful the staff was during our cookie hour and supper hour. The supper was magnificent! A true family atmosphere that fit the Whiteaker and Oakes Families to a “T”. I was busy with the kids trying to take it all in and I know I missed a lot , but, knowing you all were taking care of things on our special day is overwhelming. There are not enough thank yous in the world to tell you how I feel on the inside. This is a wedding people will be are still are talking about for awhile and that makes me very proud.

Recognition is such a “must” during life and I would appreciate it if you passed on my thankfulness to each of the staff that evening. My only wish is I would have wrapped my arms around each of them and given them a big hug because that is who I am. If Mike told me once he told me twice how he was keeping a watchful eye on the kids gifts, so much appreciated.

I sure hope you all are still around when the time comes for my son to get married. Once again thank you for a country elegant memorable experience.

Much love, hugs and Blessings from this Mom!

Julie Whiteaker

She also left such a sweet comment on our Facebook page…

Feedback like this is why we do what we do. It is such a wonderful feeling to know that we were an integral party of this day that they they will remember forever.

On August 1st we hosted the Soloman’s wedding rehearsal dinner. This event was so special because of all of the love that they put into it.

First things first, let’s just talk about this decor! It was WONDERFUL! This family did an excellent job of combining rustic chic with personal touches.

Before guests even entered the building they got a taste of the cute details that were in store.

The banner initials were not only a nice touch, but they are also great because the couple can hang them in their home afterwards. Party decor that doubles as home decor is always a great investment!

I think it goes without saying that we absolutely LOVED the name of this event.

They used it on the invite to right outside the door. Such a great touch! Plus, it helped set the theme for evening.

The decor inside was fantastic as well. Every square inch was covered with meaningful details and memorabilia. They met at the University of Arkansas, so of course there were Razorbacks sprinkled throughout.

When guests entered they were asked to sign the wedding window.

As stated in the description next to it, the window represents the past, present and future of your life. You can read it’s entire description right here. Such a neat idea and a wonderful keepsake for the newlyweds!

Of course, we adored the use of burlap and garland.

Once again, more things that they can display in their new home together!

Also, see this barn wood?

It is from their family farm. There was so much love put into this decor and it showed@

We also LOVED what they did with our barn doors! It so fun seeing how each wedding decorates them.

They really knocked it out of the park with their decor. Their cocktail napkins were even some of the cutest we had ever seen!

Even cuter was the party favors.

The groom is a geologist, so they had chocolate rock candy for party favors. So clever!

Doesn’t that idea rock? ;o)

As for the centerpieces, they were rustic and chic.

Isn’t it awesome how just a little ribbon can completely transform some mason jars?

We adored how they tied in the Razorback’s colors with this fun chevron table overlay. It added a nice pop of color and some whimsy!

This was also at every place setting.

The picture in the background is of their family barn. The message written on it is so incredibly sweet! We just loved what it said about their guests being their favorite people in the world. That is what a rehearsal dinner needs to be, very intimate and personal.

Their guests were also treated to a delicious BBQ dinner, plus some ice cream and brownies for dessert. This is a nice switch up since your guests will be enjoying cake the next night.

Overall, this was just a wonderful rehearsal dinner filled with so much love!

Congrats again to Mr. and Mrs. Soloman! You two have something really special!

For more information on our rehearsal dinners and weddings, click here!

The groomsmen also looked fantastic in their jeans, vests, and boots. We love that the groom was the only one to wear a cowboy hat – it really set him apart! His turquoise shirt helped make him stand out too and added that perfect pop of color to the pictures.

This wedding was also just full of wonderful ideas (take notes brides!).

First things first, the cake!

Any brides on a budget can use this idea.
See this cake?

Guess what – only the top of it was real! That’s right, the bottom three tiers were faux. They had separate sheet cakes to serve.

This is such a clever idea for a few reasons:

It saves money.

As Deborah from Cakes by Deb said, it allowed her to bake the sheet cakes fresh on the day of the wedding instead of a couple days in advance (they have to do that for decorating purposes on the tiered cakes) and the cake tends to dry out in that time.

It is easier to cut and serve.

Their cake flavors were so yummy: Lemon Creme with Crystal Lemon Zest, Death by Chocolate, Pineapple Carrot, and Wedding White.
Delicious!

They also had the cutest party favors – candy pecans in burlap bags!
If you are stumped on what to do for a favor, you can never go wrong with any kind of sweet treat!

Another neat detail that we were absolutely obsessed with was their guestbook.

Well, it wasn’t so much a guest book as a guest picture. Their friends and family signed this gorgeous piece of art in lieu of a traditional guest book. What we love most about this is that they are going to hang it in their home where they can see it everyday!

Another idea we really enjoyed was how they re-purposed items to add to the rustic vibe.

Like this for example…

They put the program/schedule for the night on old window frames!

Check out this old cowbell transformed into a kissing bell!

This is such a fun idea for the reception. After all, the bride and groom can never kiss enough on their wedding day!

We also loved their use of signage. Signs are always a good idea to help direct the guests to where they need to be. Plus, when done like this they are just darn cute!

They even had special signs on burlap for the bride and groom’s chairs…

It’s hard not to love it when you get the chance to work with wonderful couples like we do.

Couples like Shawna and Chuck. We were so excited to celebrate their special day with them on May 31st.

It was a PERFECT day!

Beautiful sunshine and beautiful guests!

The lovely couple was joined by about 100 of their closest friends and family and around 60 kiddos. Needless to say, Faulkner’s was the perfect venue for the little ones to stay entertained. They had the Wild Western Playground, Duck Races, and the ranch recreation right at their hands!

The wedding party was dressed so cute! These ruffled-denim dresses came from Cavender’s and were absolutely perfect for a ranch wedding.

So, SO cute, right?

The groom and his groomsmen looked so handsome in their dark wash jeans and button downs. We love how the groom stood out in his bright coral shirt. It really made him pop and it tied him to the coral necklaces that the bridesmaids wore (it’s those little details, y’all!).

And we couldn’t get enough of this flower girl’s dress. Look at the heart cutout in the back!

Of course, the bride looked STUNNING! She wore a short dress that was belted at the waist, complete with cowgirl boots. The look really fit her fun personality!
A little bit country and a little bit rock’n’roll!

Aren’t they just the cutest?

As for the decor, our gal Kelly Acock from Monarch Flower Company blew it out of the park once again.

She used drapery to transform the arbor, as well as the pavilion entrance and exit.

Not too mention the twinkle lights that she used in the pavilion – magical!

One of the most important things to consider when you are planning your wedding is what your wedding colors will be. It’s important to not only choose colors that you love, but also colors that will fit in well with your venue and theme. The colors in this wedding were brown and coral, which was a beautiful combination and looked great against the ranch backdrop.

Of course, a great wedding is all in the details! We just loved the special rustic touches that could be seen everywhere from the card box to the signage to the cake.

Such a fun celebration! Thanks again to Chuck, Shawna, and their family for celebrating their special day with us!

We are so excited to share with you the photos by The Two McClouds from this BEAUTIFUL wedding. Enjoy!

It couldn’t have been a more picture perfect spring day for Natalie and Brian’s wedding. It was April 26th and the grass and trees were that gorgeous, fresh spring color.
Just stunning!

You know what else was stunning?

The bride and groom – what a lovely couple!

These two were such a special couple. You could see their love for each other through their special ceremony.

A few of the special touches included taking communion together and a foot washing ceremony.

After the ceremony, everyone headed to the banquet barn. One of the things that we love about hosting a variety of events is seeing how the decor can truly transform the space. Here, the mother of the bride created all of the centerpieces. We especially love the pops of yellow, the brides favorite color.
Ivory linens with burlap table runners, wood slice chargers, and ivory chair covers with cappuccino colored organza sashes pulled it all together.

The beautiful (and delicious) cake rested on a wood slice charger that belonged to a friend of the bride. Those small touches are what really makes a wedding unique!

Another special detail that we loved was the adorable mason jar party favors. The best thing about them was that guests got to put them to use during the reception!

Overall, this was just the perfect spring wedding for a perfect couple.
Congrats once again to Natalie and Brian and thank you for sharing your special day with us!

For more information on how we can make your dream wedding come true at Faulkner’s Ranch, click here.

Kelly Acock from The Monarch Flower Company has been joining us for our recent Wedding Barn Warmings. Not only is she one of the nicest and most fun people we’ve ever had the privilege to work with, but her creativity is out of this world!
So, needless to say, we are THRILLED that she is joining us today here on the blog to share some of her favorite ideas from our last open house.

ENJOY!

Rustic Chic Wedding Ideas

*Burlap is not just for table runners these days ~ Use strips of burlap table runners to create a darling rustic styled chair cover! Simply fold a section of the edge over back of the chair, wrap and tie. Make banners with scrap pieces and layer on the buffet for additional detail. Its vintage charm adds texture to almost any setting while being eco-chic when re-purposed after the event into home décor items such as window treatments and pillows.

*Prop tiny vintage accents on layers for a big impact. ‘Layers’ can be old trays, blocks covered in burlap, wooden crates, vases turned upside down and wood slices.

*Hang mason jars or other tiny vases from candelabra for some fun ~ jars can hold flowers, candles or even candy!

*Burlap doesn’t always have to lay flat. Simply gather and tie the ends with twine to add some texture and depth to tables and buffet.

*If it holds water, it’s a vase! This list includes these darlings shown above…vintage spice and medicine jars that are the perfect little detail.

*Pop a solo cup in a clay jar and voila’ ~ instant vase! You can recreate this lovely layered table with a base of burlap, a few wood slices, and perfectly placed doilies…all completed with a pop of fresh to fit your theme. I chose hydrangea and garden roses…who could resist?!
We love when people add touches of vintage elements to the event décor, especially when those items hold sentimental meaning such as these doilies made by the grandmother.

*For your cake table, think outside the box. For example, wouldn’t this wagon that was salvaged from The Historical Benjamin Ranch make an amazing addition as a cake base, holding food on the buffet or holding treats for your guests?!

*These floating barn doors are just the perfect feature for creating an indoor altar, focal point for any décor or backdrop for photo booth!

*I love to have fun with the buffet display by including old wooden crates, rustic tin buckets and wood slices.

These crates and buckets are the perfect addition to a rustic buffet at Faulkner’s Ranch. …imagine filled with our yummy food!

A big thanks to Kelly Acock of The Monarch Flower Company for these awesome ideas! Be sure to check out her website and more of her floral masterpieces right here!

Then come see her creativity and more for yourself at our next Barn Warming Open House on Wednesday, February 26th from 5pm to 7pm. No reservations required! Just stop on by, enjoy some delicious food and refreshments, and get a first hand look at our unique venue all dressed up! Wedding coordinators will be available to answer your questions and tell you about all that we have to offer when it comes to making your dream wedding come true!

Remember when we showed you the ADORABLE and oh-so-unique wedding program from the Harney wedding? Well, we wanted to show you some more of our favorite details from this special event at our Benjamin Ranch location.

Here is Christine with the Word from the Herd to tell you all about it!

Kevin (the Ranch J) and I had the amazing privilege to sit in on this wedding. As you can imagine, between the two of us we must have over 500 weddings under our belts. He and I both agreed that the Harney wedding goes down in history as one of the most special, thoughtful, personal ceremonies we have ever seen. There were so many little touches that made it this way. For example, when the bride’s father gave her away he talked for several minutes about the her character and strength which of course had everyone in tears. The officiant was their pastor, as well as a good friend, who knew the couple well. You could tell he believed that they were made for each other.

It was almost a surreal experience. Just look at the light when she entered the room:

Didn’t she look stunning?

Speaking of stunning, let’s talk about the decor for the ceremony. Russ Lawrence once again worked his magic and transformed the Benjamin Ranch into a charming, rustic, elegant place.

Speaking of the ceremony, I had never seen a foot washing incorporated into a ceremony before. They added this because they wanted to show their service and sacrifice to each other. It was so beautiful to watch. The couple totally took their time. I thought with their age they would surely snicker but the way they washed each others feet was so serious, sweet, and sincere.

Another small touch that made the ceremony wonderful was the sound. Everyone who spoke was properly microphoned. Doing this may cost a little bit extra, but it is totally worth it to share your vows for all of your loved ones to hear.

The reception area was also beautiful. Russ Lawrence did an amazing job once again with the decor.

Of course, we can’t end this post without mentioning the food. They had a buffet that was sure to please all of their guests.

The entire evening was just wonderful. Oh, and we can’t forget this fun detail! The bride and groom had their very own hashtag for Instagram! That is such a great way to ensure that you get copies of all of the candid shots that people take throughout the night. In fact, it’s like your own little online wedding album that you can look at right away. They even shared some photos themselves. The very last photo of the night was added by them: a selfie of the Harney’s titled “We’re Married!”

It was such a fun night and we feel so blessed to have been a part of it.

One of our favorite trends that we are seeing in weddings is having a candy buffet or candy bar.

After all, love is sweet! So why not share that sweetness with your guests!

There are a few things that we really love about this idea:

1. The candy acts as a party favor for your guests. We can’t think of a better way to say “thank you” than a bag of chocolates and other yummy goodies!

2. A candy buffet can also double as your dessert table.

3. It adds a colorful focus point.

4. It is a great addition to your wedding reception, even if you are on a tight budget.

5. Candy buffets are easy to put together. Just see below!

To Make Your Own Candy Buffet You Will Need:

– An assortment of containers: Glass containers or clear plastic containers work best because you can see the candy. Choose a variety of different shapes and sizes for visual appeal. You will also want to make sure that the containers are wide enough for guests to scoop out the candy easily.

– Labels: It might not be obvious what each candy is so help your party guests out by labeling each container. This is also good in case any of your guests have food allergies.

– Ribbons: Tie ribbons in your wedding colors around the containers for a pretty touch.

– Treat Bags or Boxes: Gotta have something to take that candy home in?

– Scoops: This is especially important to have for candy that isn’t wrapped.

– Candy: LOTS and LOTS of candy! If you are able to hit up a post-holiday sale, that is a great time to stock up. If not, places like Sam’s Club and Costco are awesome solutions for buying in bulk. For inspiration on different types of candy to use, click here.

We just loved the candy buffet from the Roots Wedding this past month. See how they used different kinds of containers? They had everything from jars to baskets to pails to crates. It made for a really cool setup! Then they labeled each candy with chalkboard signs – so cute and rustic! Needless to say, the guests were very happy about this part of the reception! There’s nothing like a sweet treat to give you just a bit more energy to keep dancing the night away!

We have been so excited to share with you this wedding. Besides the fact that we absolutely loved the rustic-chic vibe and the colors they chose, they also had a bunch of details that made it really special. Their attention to the “little things” really made this an event to remember. Russ Lawrence made their vision come to life with his beautiful florals and decor. We tell ya – that man is a genius!

But, before we dive into the gorgeous pictures, here is what Mindi Masters, the mother of the bride, had to say about their evening at Faulkner’s Ranch:

“We had a wonderful wedding experience. My daughter had to plan this long distance wedding. (We are from California) . We needed a facility that was affordable, flexible and all-inclusive as needed. The staff was extremely helpful and accommodating. The Ranch theme fit perfect for her dream to have a relaxed and fun wedding. All our guests complimented us on how much fun they had, especially playing the outside games during the reception. The catering and decorations was wonderful too. For any bride who wants a stress free wedding on a reasonable budget, I highly recommend Faulkner’s Ranch. I have 2 more daughters who are yet to be married, I would definitely seek their services again.”

Thanks Mindi! It was our pleasure!

Now, on to the photos!

We loved the use of bunting! It really enhanced the building.

Isn’t it beautiful? So simple, yet it makes such an impact!

The set-up for their first communion was perfect!

Gotta love chalkboards! They are the perfect touch to any rustic-chic event. This was a smart idea too! By asking everyone to leave their address, they will have the current ones on hand for thank you notes.

Guests left their address in Mr. and Mrs. White’s mailbox. Can they get any cuter?

The wedding party looked amazing! We loved the dresses and casual suits (sans coat). A simple sunflower helped tie it all together.

Comfortable enough in fact that they could enjoy the zip line before the ceremony. Crazy guys!

Speaking of the ceremony – it was BEAUTIFUL! We love how the draping created a clean, elegant altar. The lanterns on the pavilion ceiling (such a cool idea) were such a neat touch. They looked beautiful all lit up at night too!

Okay, can we talk about this cupCAKE though! It’s like yellow and white tiered heaven! Beautiful AND delicious!

The grooms cake was awesome too! It added a really sweet personal touch.

For any future Faulkner’s Ranch brides, yellow is a really good color to choose as one of your accent colors. It just fits beautifully into the ranch setting. That’s why we loved the pops of yellow in the florals. They were so bright and fun!

In addition to the stunning florals, some of the tables had these neat lit up trees. They really added to the ambiance of the night.

Guests didn’t go home empty handed. Nothing like some sweet treats to thank your guests for celebrating with you!